Aransas Pass Mourns after Tragic Shooting

The City of Aransas Pass tries to push forward after what officials are calling a murder-suicide occurred on June 28.

The incident is the first homicide investigation in Aransas Pass in 2016 according to City Manager Sylvia Carrillo. “This has rocked our community more than anybody in this room cares to share,” Carrillo said during the press conference held on June 29.

On June 28, The Aransas Pass Police Department responded to shots fired around 10 p.m. on West Highland Avenue. Officials said they came upon “a horrific scene.” Steven Matthew Dolan, 46, is believed to have shot himself in the head after shooting his 11-year-old stepdaughter, Madelyn Rychetsky, and his 47-year-old wife, Brenda Dolan. Investigators believe the shooting happened following a domestic dispute between Dolan and his wife. Dolan has been a part of the Corpus Christi Fire Department for 19 years. APPD continues to investigate the shooting.

City officials and community organizations have bonded together since the shooting in hopes to bring awareness to domestic violence, provide counsel and remember Brenda Dolan and her daughter. Rychetsky was an active member in the Aransas Pass for Youth program, and on July 1, APFY held a balloon and bubble release ceremony to remembrance of Rychestsky and her mother. Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce CEO Rosemary Vega shared how APFY provided counselors at the camp for the classmates and friends of Rychestsky. “The class was very somber [in Rychestsky’s absence],” Vega said. “Our counselors are there grieving and talking with them to help get through this tragic event.”

Assistant Police Chief David Perkins expressed how the community needs to come together to address domestic violence. “The community needs to understand domestic violence is an issue in this community, in this country and in this state,” Perkins said. “It’s something we need to pay attention to, and as a community, we need to come together to be able to stop this type of activity.”

Mayor Adan Chapa’s family has been a part of a domestic violence tragedy in the San Antonio area recently, and he talked about how communities need to find ways to stop the issue. “We never expect something like this to happen here at our home in Aransas Pass,” Chapa said. “But it happens everywhere, and it needs to be addressed so there will be no more victims and no more families grieving over domestic violence.”

Carrillo shared domestic violence will be a topic talked about between city officials to find ways to address the issue throughout the entire community. During the City’s annual 4th of July Celebration, the Women’s Shelter of South Texas participated at the event to talk with community members.